Day One

The eight-team knockout final stage of the 1st “机器人谷杯” (“Robot Valley Cup”) China City Chess League kicked off today (January 1, 2021) at 开元度假村 (Kāiyuán Resort) in 棋子湾 (Qízǐ Bay), 海南省 (Hǎinán Island), China. Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gave her brilliant contribution to the victory of 济南 (Jǐnán) over 海口 (Hǎikǒu) by winning both her games against 孙心悦 (Sūn Xīnyuè). 成都 (Chéngdū), 青岛 (Qīngdǎo), and 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) also won its matches and move on to tomorrow’s semifinals. Photo: Sina Sports.

[Event "1st 'Robot Valley Cup' China City Chess League"]
[Site "棋子湾 (Qízǐ Bay) CHN"]
[Date "2021.01.01"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)"]
[Black "孙心悦 (Sūn Xīnyuè)"]
[ECO "B85"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "30m+15s"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Kh1 Bd7 11. Qe1 h5 12. a4 Rc8 13. Rd1 h4 14. Qf2 Nb4 15. Nb3 h3 16. g4 d5 17. Bb6 Qb8 18. e5 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Rxd7 Kxd7 21. c4 Ke8 22. Qe3 Bd8 23. Bc5 Be7 24. Bxe7 Kxe7 25. Nd2 Qc7 26. Nxe4 Qc6 27. f5 exf5 28. Rxf5 Nc2 29. Qf4 Rcf8 30. Qg5+ Kd7 31. Qd2+ Kc8 32. Qxc2 Rd8 33. Bf3 Qb6 34. Nd6+ Kb8 35. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "1st 'Robot Valley Cup' China City Chess League"]
[Site "棋子湾 (Qízǐ Bay) CHN"]
[Date "2021.01.01"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "孙心悦 (Sūn Xīnyuè)"]
[Black "侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)"]
[ECO "B91"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "30m+15s"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2 b5 9. a4 b4 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Ra7 12. Be3 Be6 13. Qd2 Rb7 14. O-O O-O 15. Rfd1 Nd7 16. Nc1 Qb8 17. Nd3 Rc8 18. f4 Nf6 19. a5 Rb5 20. Ra4 d5 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 Rxd5 23. fxe5 Qc7 24. c3 Bg4 25. Rda1 Bd7 26. Bd4 Bxa4 27. Rxa4 Qd7 28. Ra1 bxc3 29. bxc3 Rxd4 0-1